Brawijaya University

Four major characteristics for a molecule to serve as genetic material: replication, storage, expression, and Mutation.

Replication, The genetic material has to be able to replicate, so that exact copies can be passed down to the daughter cells during cell cycles

Storage, DNA sequences serve as a repository of all hereditary characteristics. All cells contain complete genome but only one part of it is expressed at a certain time. Gene expression may be cell specific and time specific.

Expression, Is a complex process of information flow.

It starts with DNA transcription, which gives rise to mRNA, tRNA and rRNA. mRNA is than translated into a protein product. Genetic central dogma: DNA –> RNA –> Protein